From Braille Code to Smart Book Readers: Technology as a Tool for Reading Emancipation of the Visually Impaired Persons

Abstract

This paper illustrates how, over the course of the last two centuries, the autonomous access of the visually impaired to reading material has expanded. The author coins the term “reading emancipation” to describe these processes. She illustrates it by referring to her own research involving in-depth interviews with the visually impaired readers regarding the use of various forms of books, such as books printed in Braille, talking books and e-books. The author also traces the historical background of the transformation of alternative book formats, from the development and spread of Braille code to digital books. The description of the evolution of book formats is set against the background of the transformations taking place in Europe with a strong emphasis on the impact of these transformations on Poland.